perdón por molestarte
/peɾdon poɾ molestaɾte/from spelling rules
The English phrase "sorry to bother you" is translated into Spanish as perdón por molestarte.
This phrase is a polite way to apologize for interrupting someone or for asking for their attention.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from perdón (pardon or forgiveness), por (for or because of) and molestarte (bothering you).
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form perdón por molestarte uses the informal tú pronoun, which is indicated by the suffix -te in molestarte. To switch to the formal usted version, you should change the suffix from -te to -le, resulting in perdón por molestarle.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾdon poɾ molestaɾte/
Did you know?
- The verb in molestarte comes from the same Latin root as the English word 'molest', but in Spanish, its most common everyday meaning is simply to annoy or disturb someone.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to pair this phrase with a small physical gesture, such as a slight nod or a hand raised, to visually signal that you are not an aggressive intruder.
- If you are bothering someone in a professional email, it is more common to use disculpe la molestia rather than the more casual perdón por molestarte.
Examples in context
- Perdón por molestarte.Sorry to bother you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase perdón por molestarte.Tatoeba #1780897 by marcelostockle, translation #461156 by jeanne
- Disculpe la molestia, ¿puede ayudarme con este formulario?Sorry to bother you, can you help me with this form?
- Lamento interrumpirlo/a, pero tengo una pregunta sobre la tarea.I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a question about the homework.
- ¡Oye! Perdón por molestarte, ¿tienes un minuto?Hey! Sorry to bother you, do you have a minute?
- Perdón por molestarte, ¿tienes un momento?Sorry to bother you, do you have a moment?
- Perdón por molestarte con esta pregunta.Sorry to bother you with this question.
Example conversation
Elena approaches Daniel at his desk to ask a quick question.
- ElenaPerdón por molestarte, Daniel.Sorry to bother you, Daniel.
- DanielNo te preocupes, Elena. ¿Qué pasa?Don't worry, Elena. What's up?
- Elena¿Sabes dónde está el archivo?Do you know where the file is?
- DanielSí, está en tu escritorio.Yes, it is on your desk.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries perdón, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
